Scottish Executive

Cancer

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how rates of skin cancer in Scotland compare with the rest of the world.

Malcolm Chisholm: The incidence rates of malignant melanoma of the skin and non-melanoma skin cancer in Scotland and selected countries and regions are shown in Tables 1 and 2. The figures relate to the period 1993-97, the latest period for which internationally comparable information is available.

  Table 1 - Malignant Melanoma of the Skin (C43) : International Comparisons of Incidence Rates

  Age-standardised Incidence Rates per 100,000 Person-years at Risk (World Standard Population) for Selected Countries or Registries; Ranked; by Sex: Period 1993-97

  

 Males

 Females



 Australia, New 
  South Wales
 36.9
 New Zealand
 30.6


 New Zealand
 32.8
 Australia, New 
  South Wales
 25.9


 USA, California, 
  San Francisco: Non-Hispanic White
 18.2
 Denmark
 13.4


 USA, Connecticut: 
  White
 16.7
 Switzerland, Vaud
 13.4


 Switzerland, Vaud
 14.0
 USA, California, 
  San Francisco: Non-Hispanic White
 12.6


 Austria, Tyrol
 11.2
 USA, Connecticut: 
  White
 12.3


 Canada, Nova Scotia
 11.1
 Austria, Tyrol
 10.9


 Denmark
 10.5
 Scotland
 9.9


 Scotland
 7.1
 Canada, Nova Scotia
 9.0


 Slovenia
 6.8
 England, Yorkshire
 6.9


 Italy, Varese 
  Province
 5.5
 Slovenia
 6.8


 England, Yorkshire
 4.8
 Italy, Varese 
  Province
 5.9


 Slovakia
 4.8
 Poland, Cracow
 5.8


 Poland, Cracow
 4.7
 Estonia
 5.4


 Estonia
 3.7
 Slovakia
 5.3


 Spain, Zaragoza 
  (1991 - 1995)
 2.7
 Spain, Zaragoza 
  (1991 - 1995)
 3.3


 Thailand, Khon 
  Kaen
 0.5
 Thailand, Khon 
  Kaen
 0.4


 China, Shanghai
 0.3
 China, Shanghai
 0.3


 India, Bangalore
 0.3
 India, Bangalore
 0.3


 Japan, Miyagi 
  Prefecture
 0.3
 Japan, Miyagi 
  Prefecture
 0.3



  Table 2 - Non-melanoma Skin Cancer (C44) : International Comparisons of Incidence Rates

  Age-standardised Incidence Rates per 100,000 Person-years at Risk (World Standard Population) for Selected Countries or Registries; Ranked; by Sex: Period 1993-97

  

 Males

 Females



 Switzerland, Vaud
 99.4
 Switzerland, Vaud
 81.6


 Scotland
 68.3
 Denmark
 51.5


 Denmark
 58.9
 Scotland
 47.3


 England, Yorkshire
 54.4
 England, Yorkshire
 40.3


 Slovakia
 43.1
 Slovakia
 33.6


 Spain, Zaragoza 
  (1991 - 1995)
 39.8
 Estonia
 22.5


 Italy, Varese 
  Province
 34.4
 Spain, Zaragoza 
  (1991 - 1995)
 22.5


 Slovenia
 30.0
 Slovenia
 22.3


 Estonia
 22.9
 Italy, Varese 
  Province
 18.3


 Austria, Tyrol
 22.1
 Austria, Tyrol
 17.1


 Poland, Cracow
 14.9
 Poland, Cracow
 11.6


 Thailand, Khon 
  Kaen
 4.0
 Thailand, Khon 
  Kaen
 3.1


 Japan, Miyagi 
  Prefecture
 2.7
 Japan, Miyagi 
  Prefecture
 1.6


 India, Bangalore
 1.3
 India, Bangalore
 1.2


 China, Shanghai 
  
 1.1
 China, Shanghai 
  
 1.0


 Australia, New 
  South Wales***
 -
 Australia, New 
  South Wales***
 -


 Canada, Nova Scotia*
 -
 Canada, Nova Scotia*
 -


 New Zealand*
 -
 New Zealand*
 -


 USA, California, 
  San Francisco: Non-Hispanic White*
 -
 USA, California, 
  San Francisco: Non-Hispanic White*
 -


 USA, Connecticut: 
  White**
 -
 USA, Connecticut: 
  White**
 -



  Source: Parkin DM, Whelan SL, Ferlay J, Teppo L, Thomas DB (eds) (2002). Cancer Incidence in Five Continents, Volume VIII. IARC Scientific Publications No. 155. Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer.

  Notes:

  *Does not include basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma.

  **Does not include basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma except for skin of anus.

  ***Not available.

Central Heating Programme

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last conducted inspections of (a) Eaga Partnership Ltd and (b) contractors implementing the central heating programme and what the results of these inspections were.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Communities Scotland meet with Eaga on a regular basis to discuss progress being made on the central heating programme and consider contract compliance issues.

  Eaga are responsible for the work undertaken by their contractors and carry out 100% inspections of central heating installations to ensure quality standards are met. They have in place processes and procedures to deal with issues that may arise.

  Communities Scotland is currently considering further measures for scrutinising the effectiveness of the delivery programme.

Central Heating Programme

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been any serious complaints made against (a) Eaga Partnership Ltd or (b) contractors with regard to implementing the central heating programme and what action has been taken with regard to any such complaints.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The central heating programme is a major programme of work impacting on the homes of individuals. The Executive expects that high standards of care are applied by those delivering the programme, and has contractual agreements in place governing these aspects.

  Concerns have been received about the specifics of eligibility for assistance and about detailed aspects of the implementation programme. Issues of eligibility are for Communities Scotland to deal with. The eligibility criteria are set out in Scottish Statutory Instrument 2001 No 267, and this is an issue for the Scottish Executive to deal with. The execution of the eligibility criteria is a matter for Eaga, and it is for them to determine whether individuals qualify for assistance under the programme.

Central Heating Programme

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether boiler replacement schemes are available under the central heating programme and, if not, when these will be made available.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  As part of a pilot project, applicants to the programme who request a boiler only replacement can have this measure carried out provided an engineer appointed by Eaga agrees their existing system is suitable for boiler only replacement. Applicants will have to agree to insulation measures, energy advice and alarms being installed where applicable.

  We will carry out a review on the outcomes of the pilot project in due course.

Central Heating Programme

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there have been cases where independent inspections have not been conducted of work carried out under the central heating programme.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  There have been no such cases. All installations are inspected by Eaga’s technical monitoring officers as well as by one of two independent specialist companies.

Central Heating Programme

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has carried out, or commissioned, research into the comparative costs of replacing heating systems and boiler replacements as part of the central heating programme.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  As part of the central heating programme, the comparative cost of central heating systems installed under the programme are recorded by Eaga partnership for use in the programme. As part of the pilot project to replace boilers only, a cost analysis of boiler only and full system replacements will be carried out.

Central Heating Programme

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what service standards criteria it has laid down to Eaga Partnership Ltd and to contractors for implementing its central heating programme.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The Executive has a formal contract agreement with Eaga Partnership. That agreement sets out the service standards such as: technical specifications, technical inspections, quality management systems and monitoring procedures. Similarly, contractors working on the programme have a formal contract agreement with Eaga.

Community Safety

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been (a) made available and (b) awarded to local authority-led community safety partnerships under the Community Safety Partnership Award Programme.

Hugh Henry: The Community Safety Partnership Award Programme was introduced on 1 April 2002 with all council-led community safety partnerships eligible for a share of £12 million over three years to identify and address local community safety priorities. The award programme replaced the Make Our Communities Safer challenge match funding competition. The award programme is not challenge or bid based. It is made up of two elements; a formulated award based on population share and crimes per head of population and a variable award based on progress and quality of partnerships’ community safety strategies and action plans. Details of the full 2002-03 and 2003-04 awards made to all partnerships can be found on the Executive’s Community Safety Website at:

  www.saferscotland.org, under "News" – 26 February 2003, "Community Safety Partnership Award".

Community Safety

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many bids by local authority-led community safety partnerships have been (a) made and (b) successful under the Community Safety Award Programme.

Hugh Henry: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-3199. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search ..

Food Standards

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with food manufacturers in Scotland about making healthier products and whether it has had any discussions about putting this issue on the agenda of the European Union.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive and the Food Standards Agency have had discussions with a range of food manufacturers in Scotland, and the UK, about developing products with lower levels of fat, salt and sugar. Negotiations with the European Union are reserved to the UK Government.

Health

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether work on the Midlothian Community Hospital will begin in July 2004.

Malcolm Chisholm: Work has been postponed awaiting the outcome of a review currently being conducted by NHS Lothian of its mental health strategy.

Health

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23840 by Malcolm Chisholm on 3 April 2002, how many training places there are for clinical psychologists.

Malcolm Chisholm: As at 1 October 2003, there were 65 trainee clinical psychologists in first year, 36 trainee clinical psychologists in second year and 32 trainee clinical psychologists in third year.

Planning

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it envisages a role for community councils within local planning forums, as referred to in Your Place, Your Plan , and what the nature of that role will be.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: We are looking to local planning forums to encourage discussion and build up local interest and expertise in planning. The constitution and remit of such forums has yet to be finalised. We may look to the proposed National Consultative Group to have a role in developing this measure.

Sexual Health

Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the final report of the expert group on the National Sexual Health Strategy for Scotland will be published.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive received the draft national sexual health strategy on 25 September. It will be published for consultation in the near future.

Sport

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it and its agencies recognise darts as a sport and what the reasons are for its position on the matter

Mr Frank McAveety: The recognition of an activity as a sport is the responsibility of the four home country sports councils and UK Sport acting unanimously against set criteria. It is the responsibility of the sports council of the country in which an application for recognition originates to give initial consideration to the application. I understand that  sportscotland has not received a formal application to recognise darts as a sport.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the roles and remits are of VisitScotland and VisitBritain in marketing Scotland in Canada.

Mr Frank McAveety: Although this is an operational matter for VisitScotland, I am informed that VisitScotland share responsibility for the promotion of Scotland in the Canadian market with VisitBritain. A team of staff based in VisitBritain’s Toronto office carries out a full programme of consumer and trade activities in relation to the promotion of Scotland.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much VisitScotland has spent marketing Scotland in Canada in each year since 1997; what form of media has been used, and how much it will spend in the next three years.

Mr Frank McAveety: Although this is an operational matter for VisitScotland, I can confirm that the following amounts have been spent by VisitScotland in promoting Scotland in the Canadian tourism market:

  

 1997
 £50,000


 1998
 £50,000


 1999
 £50,000


 2000
 £50,000


 2001
 £100,000


 2002
 £100,000


 2003
 £150,000



  It is anticipated that the sum of £150,000 will be spent in each of the next three years.

  The media used for Canadian marketing activities includes press visits, travel trade events in Canada, tour operator buying trips to Scotland and a rolling programme of print and online advertising. Since 2001, there has been an increasing focus on raising interest in Scotland among Canadians with Scottish forebears, using ancestralscotland.com.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff employed by VisitScotland are involved in marketing Scotland in Canada; where such staff are located, and whether any premises are utilised or occupied in Canada.

Mr Frank McAveety: This is an operational matter for VisitScotland. However, the VisitScotland long haul team, which covers North America as well as other long haul tourism markets, is based in Edinburgh. VisitBritain has an office in Toronto and VisitScotland staff utilise this when appropriate.

Tourism

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has provided to develop the tourism cluster in each year since 2001; where these funds have been invested, and what outcomes been achieved.

Mr Frank McAveety: Over the past three years, the Executive through its various agencies has provided funding for the tourism sector of £74 million in 2000-01, £82.3 million in 2001-02 and £82.6 million in 2002-03. In addition local authorities have provided area tourist boards with funding totalling around £8 million a year over the period.

  This funding for tourism has in the main been focussed on the following areas:

  by VisitScotland on the marketing of Scotland; quality assurance; supporting area tourist boards;

  by the enterprise agencies on enhancing skills and training in the tourism workforce and investment in physical tourism infrastructure e.g. visitor attractions;

  by Scottish Natural Heritage on making it easier for visitors to appreciate Scotland’s natural environment, e.g. through better visitor facilities at nature sites, and

  by Historic Scotland on new and upgraded visitor facilities at historic sites.

  Local authorities also provide and maintain local visitor attractions, fund local tourism projects and part-fund area tourist boards.

  This considerable public sector investment in Scottish tourism has helped the industry to recover well from the blows of 2001. In 2002, tourist spending in Scotland as a whole recovered almost to the levels of 2000, and further strong growth is being experienced this year.

Voluntary Sector

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding will replace the Millennium Volunteers funding that is due to end in March 2004.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: The current Millennium Volunteers scheme is being reviewed by Volunteer Development Scotland. Volunteer Development Scotland is also preparing advice for the Scottish Executive on the strategic framework for promoting volunteering in Scotland and is contributing to the work of the Scotscorps working group established by the First Minister in May this year. A decision on future direction and funding will be taken in the new year once work on these three related strands is complete.